Spay/Neuter & Surgery

Spay and Neuter

Cat overpopulation is a very serious problem in the United States. There are simply too many cats and not enough people to care for them. Responsibility is the key to cat ownership, and a major part of that responsibility is guaranteeing that your cat doesn’t reproduce.

Neutering and spaying are two of the most commonly performed elective surgical procedures. Not only do they help curtail cat overpopulation, they also bring many health and behavior benefits to both you and your cat.

Spaying is the procedure used for females. (The medical term is ovariohysterectomy.) The ovaries and uterus are removed, and the cat can go home the same day. There are several advantages to spaying such as: no more heat cycles, no more crying, yowling, or trying to escape outside, no more unwelcome visits by unneutered male cats, no uterine infections, no ovarian cysts, and greatly reduced incidence of mammary cancer if spayed before the first heat.

Neutering/castration is the procedure used for males. The testicles are removed, and the cat can go home the same day. Advantages of neutering are: prevention of spraying or urine marking, a reduced urge to roam in search of a mate, and less aggression (which reduces the likelihood of cat-bite abscesses).

General Surgery

Occasionally, cats require surgical intervention. Repair of skin lacerations, removal of skin tumors, removal of bladder stones, biopsies, and other common procedures are performed here by our experienced doctors. More complex surgical procedures may require the utilization of a board-certified veterinary surgeon. Manhattan Cat Specialists works closely with local board-certified surgeons who can come to our hospital when necessary to provide advanced surgical expertise.